Device for maintaining alignment between molds and cooperating rotating cores



HEYMAN 2,669,196

A. A. DEVICE FOR MAINTAINING ALIGNMENT BETWEEN MOLDS AND COOPERATING ROTATING CORES 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 25, 1952 Ill-1 F v INVENTOR. 21 Alberi'-A.Heynzcuz/.

ATTORNEY Feb. 16, 1954 HEYMAN 2,669,196

' DEVICE FOR MAINTAI G AH NMENT BETWEEN I MOLDS AND COOPER NG ATING CORES Filed Jan. 25, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. i Alberfi AHeynzaro. B

away/6W ATTO RNEY Feb. 16, 1954 A. A. HEY N DEVICE FOR MAINTAINING GNMENT BETWEEN MOLDS AND COOPERATING ROTATING CORES 3 Shee cs-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 25, 1952 INVENTOR AlberltA.Heymarz/.

ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 16, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT err-Ice;

Davies Aron MAINTAINING ALIGNMENT BETWEEN MOLDS AND' COOPERATING' ROTATING cones Albert A. Heyma n, Baltimore, Md'.', assignorito The. Maryland Baking Company, Baltimore, Md, ascorporation of Maryland Application'January 25, 1952, Serial'No. 268,293

7 Claims.

This invention relates to machines for automatically making rolled hollow. cones and is more particularly concerned with devices for improv ing the operation of such machines of the type described in the copending application of James Balton for patent, serial No. 261,274, filed Decembe 12, 1951.

The machine referred to comprises, generally, a chain ofwafiie irons for baking wafers to be rolled into edible ice cream cones and a turret unit for removing baked wafers from said irons and rolling them into cones. The turret comprises a ring of conical 'molds disposed around the'periphery of the turret, each -mold.having a slotted inlet for thepassage to the interior thereof of bakedwafers from the wafi'ie irons. Each inlet has'a scraperblade attached'to it to contact the wafileirons and directthem into the inlet. The turret'also carries a ring of correspondingly spaced conical cores or spinners, one foreach mold. Each spinner is carried at the bottom of a vertical reciprocating shaft. Each shaft is carried on a roller which is rotatably carried at afixed position on the turret above the mold. The shaftrotates with the roller and reciprocates relative thereto, whereby rotation of the roller causes the spinner to rotate and permits it to move in and out of the mold.

Therotation of each roller is efiected'at intervals' while itscorresponding spinner is disposed within'the mol'd zforthe purpose of forming the cone." In order to eifec't thi's result properly, it

is necessary that the'axisof the-spinner and the axis of the mold be held in substantial alignment. Otherwise, the pressure exerted against the spinner by the wafer entering the mold forces the spinner to an eccentric position with the result Accordingly, one of the objects of this inven- 4 tionis the provision of a device in combination with a machine of the type-mentioned which will maintain substantialalignment of the axes of the mold and its spinner, particularly during the time-when the spinner is turning inside the mold and cooperatin therewithto form the cone from the wafer inserted therein.

Another -objectof the invention is theprovision of such adevice which is simple to attach to the machine and does not interfere with the other functions of the-"machinea A further object :is such a device which can:

form a permanent part of the machine, but which invention will appear more fully from the follow ing description, considered together with the accompanying drawing; in which: 1

Fig.1 is a fragmentary perspective viewed the turret portion of the cone rolling machine'showing an embodiment of "this invention attached thereto.

Fig. 2 is ahorizontal'section' of the "embodiment along the liner-2 of :Fig; 1.

Big. 3 is a vertical section along the lines-3 of Fig; 2, partlyrbroken' away.

Fig.4 is a fragmentaryvperspective view of the' same embodiment showing the capdisassembled' from: the'spinner member to expose its ball bearing' assembly; i

Fig. 5 is a sideelevational view, *partlyin sec: tion, of ianzalternati-ve embodiment of the same invention.

Fig; sis aviewsimilanto Fig.2, showings modification of'rthe embodiment illustrated in'Figs. 1 to-14.

Referring with moreparticularity to the-'draw-' ing', in which likenumerals designate like parts, the: invention is illustrated .withrespect to a on ret'or coneforming unit, which unit comprises an.

assembly mounted on a vertical stationary shaft 1 9 upon whicharei rotatably' mounted two hori-' zcnta'l wheele l2 and t3; connected together with tie bars; 'Ihese wheels areadapted to 'be-rotated simultaneously aboutthe shaft l I by a pin ion (not shown) engaging'a ring gear It on the" bo'ttomof the lower wheel' f3.

The lower wheel [3 carries' at i-ts=*periphery a plurality of 'circuinferentially spaced horizontal brackets is (only-one shown) projecting outwardl'y from the edge of the wheel. These brackets have rearward portions ISA which "are con nected to the-Wheel l3 by bolts [*BB'L 'To the bottornof-each bracket, there-is mounted a hollow conical member ll, constituting the mold within which the baked wafers are formed intocories.

Themolcl "l-i is provided with "an' attaching flange- I8 near the topm The top" I 9 of the mold projects .C upwardly through an aperture in the bracket #6 and the top of the flange l8 bears against the bottom of said bracket l6. Bolts serve to secure the flange of the mold to the bracket.

The molds are each provided with a longitudinal slot 2| to permit entrance therein of the wafer to be formed. The slot extends from the apex of the mold to the top, substantially as shown.

On one side of the slot, there projects a nearly tangential extension 22 which is provided with a removable scraper blade 23 to scoop the wafer into the opening from the waiile irons (not shown) and hence into the interior of the mold where it is shaped into a cone.

The upper wheel is also provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced brackets 24, each vertically aligned with one of the brackets IS on the lower wheel. The brackets 24 are each provided with a rearward portion 24A, as in the case of the potrion 15A of the bracket it, which is secured to the wheel l2 by bolts (not shown) similar to the manner in which the brackets is are secured to the wheel l3. Each bracket 24 has an integral yoke having vertically spaced arms 25 and 25. A vertical shaft 21 is mounted. for vertical. reciprocation on the arms of said yoke. Between the arms 25 and 25, a roller 28 is disposed and through the axis of said roller the shaft 27 also passes. The shaft is mounted for rotation with the roller 28, but it is axially slidable relative thereto by means of a key (not shown) secured to the roller and slidably engaged with a longitudinal keyway 29 on the face of the shaft.

The upper end of the shaft 2'! is journaled in a bearing 39 in the center of a cross arm 3|. The outer ends of said cross arm have vertical sleeves 32 which are slidably engaged with vertical guide rods 33 and 34. The lower ends of said rods 33 and 34 pass through vertical bores 2413 in lobes 24C of the upper wheel bracket 24 and are secured to the lower wheel bracket l6 by bolts 35, thereby serving to resist torsional misalignment between said upper and lower brackets.

The upper ends of the said rods are held in aper- The inner side of the elongated portion 36 is provided with an elongated vertical slot 39 through which a horizontal finger 40, integral with the cross arm 3|, extends radially inward and is provided with a cam roller 4|. roller moves along a camway composed of a pair of straddling parallel rails 42 and 43 which extend around. approximately one-half of the inside of the cage formed by the bracket portions and contain curvatures to impart vertical movement of the cam roller 4| and hence the shaft 2'! in accordance with the requirements. The camway rails are supported in fixed position by means of radial arms 44 secured to a hub 45 oi the stationary shaft H.

To the lower end of the reciprocating shaft 21, there is secured a conical core or spinner 46, having lateral projections 41. This core or spinner is adapted to move in and out of the mold H by virtue of the reciprocation of the shaft 2! and also to be rotated at definite intervals by means (not shown) engaging the rollers 28.

The lower end 48 of the shaft 21 is reduced in diameter to provide a shoulder 49 facing downwardly. Below the shoulder 49 the said lower end Said cam is provided with threads 50 which engage threads 5! of a center bore of the spinner. On top of the spinner, a ball bearing assembly 52 is mounted with the inner race 53 about the shaft end 48, substantially as shown. The bearing is held in this position between the top of the spinner and the shoulder 49. The upper end 54 of the spinner is recessed to provide an upwardly facing annular shoulder 55 over which there is disposed a hollow cap 56,'the outer diameter of which is substantially flush with the largest diameter of the spinner. The inside diameter of the cap is the same as the outside diameter of the outer race 5'! of said bearing and is frictionally engaged therewith by a force fit. Consequently, the spinner may be rotated freely and independently of the cap 56 but will reciprocate with it.

The upper part 58 of the cap is upwardly tapered to engage and spread apart resilient stripping fingers 59 which slide over the cap and thence over the top portion of the spinner to remove the formed cones upon elevation of the shaft 21.

The backof the tapered portion 58 of the cap carries an integral boss or lug 60 for securing the cap in a position to resist forces tending to move it radially relative to the mold. This is accomplished by means of a sliding abutment in the form of a bracket GI. Said bracket BI is slidably mounted on the rods 33 and 34 and is preferably formed in two sections, namely, a front section 52 and a rear section 63, having complementary recesses, such as the semi-cylindrical recesses 54 and 65, respectively, at the ends to encircle the rods 33 and 34. These sections are preferably secured together, such as by means of bolts and nuts 55 or any other suitable means.

The front section 62 has a horizontal portion 5'? projecting outwardly from the center thereof to abuttingly engage the boss 60. The said boss is somewhat wider than the portion 61 and is provided with a recess 68 to receive the said portion for the purpose of holding it in alignment. The portion Bl is hollow and is secured to the boss (ill by a bolt 69 passing through its hollow portion and engaging internal threads 10 in the boss, substantially as shown.

As illustrated in Fig. 6 the front section 52 may be made integral with the cap 56, and the rear section 63 eliminated, depending, in the latter case, solely upon the forces acting between the rods 33, 34 and the cap 56 to hold the bracket 6! in place.

By these means, the spinner is constantly held in axial alignment with the mold ll, irrespective of their relative positions vertically, irrespective of any loose fitting of the shaft in its upper bearings, and irrespective of any forces acting on the spinner to force it out of alignment. Without this support, the spinner in its lowermost position would resist displacement under conditions in the nature of a cantilever with a rather long arm length. The natural bending characteristics of the shaft 21, together with even slight looseness in the upper bearings which is multiplied at the lower end of the shaft in proportion of the length of the shaft between these two points, would result in a substantial displacement of the spinner relative to the mold under the normal operating forces. However, the support furnished by the device described above overcomes this deficiency by furnishing a reaction point close to the point where the force tending to displace it is applied.

The alternative embodiment illustrated in Fig.

comprises the elimination of the sliding bracket 6| and the substitution therefor of a hollow cylindrical abutment member II on the top l9 of the mold l1 and concentric therewith. The cylindrical member is firmly secured to the top of the mold, such as by welding, or it may be made integral therewith. The inside diameter of the cylindrical member H is substantially equal to the outside diameter of the cap 56, whereby when the spinner descends into the mold, as shown in Fig. 5, it is held against displacement in all radial directions by the sliding engagement of the cap with the inner wall of the cylindrical member I I.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a machine having a hollow mold and a rotatable spinner member adapted to coact with the interior of said mold to form hollow articles, said member being mounted on an axially reciprocable shaft, means for maintaining substantial alignment of said mold and spinner member, said means comprising a cap connected to said member for movement axially therewith, said shaft and member being rotatable relative to said cap, and abutment means between said cap and said mold for engaging said cap to resist radial displacement of the spinner mem-- ber relative to the mold.

2. In a machine having a hollow mold and a rotatable spinner member adapted to coact with the interior of said mold to form hollow articles, said member being mounted on an axially reciprocable shaft, a cap connected to said member for movement axially therewith, said shaft and member being rotatable relative to said cap, and abutment means between said cap and said mold for engaging said cap to resist radial displacement of the spinner member relative to the mold.

3. In a machine having a hollow mold and a rotatable spinner member adapted to coact with the interior of said mold to form hollow articles, said member being mounted on an axially reciprocable shaft, a cap connected to said member for movement axially therewith, said shaft and member being rotatable relative to said cap, a guide rod secured to said mold parallel to said shaft and an abutment member slidably mounted between said rod and cap for engaging said rod to resist displacement of the spinner member relative to the mold.

4. In a machine having a hollow mold and a rotatable spinner member adapted to coact with the interior of said mold to form hollow articles, said member being mounted on an axially reciprocable shaft, a cap on said member, said 6 shaft and member being rotatable relative to said cap, a pair of spaced guide rods secured to said mold parallel to said shaft, and an abutment member slidably mounted on said guide rods and secured to said cap.

5. In a machine having a hollow mold and a rotatable spinner member adapted to coact with the interior of said mold to form hollow articles, said member being mounted on an axially reciprocable shaft, a cap on said member, said shaft and member being rotatable relative to said cap, spaced guide rods secured to said mold parallel to said shaft, and a bracket slidably mounted on said guide rods, said bracket having grooves for engaging said rods and means for clamping said bracket about said rods, said bracket being connected to said cap.

6. In a machine having a hollow mold and a rotatable spinner member adapted to coact with the interior of said mold to form hollow articles, said member being mounted on an axially reciprocable shaft, a cap on said member, said shaft and member being rotatable relative to said cap, spaced guide rods'secured to said mold parallel to said shaft, a bracket slidably mounted on said guide rods, said bracket having grooves for engaging said rods, means for clamping said bracket to said rods, and means for removably connecting said bracket to said cap.

7. In a machine having a hollow mold and a rotatable spinner member adapted to coact with the interior of said mold to form hollow articles, said member being mounted on an axially reciprocable shaft, a cap on said member, said shaft and member being rotatable relative to said cap, spaced guide rods secured to said mold parallel to said shaft, a bracket slidably mounted on said guide rods, said bracket having grooves engaging said rods, and means for attaching said bracket to said cap.

ALBERT A. HEYMAN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,097,576 Winder May 19, 1914 1,191,485 Tompkins July 18, 1916 1,377,304 Borchard May 10, 1921 1,537,993 Lewison May 19, 1925 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 399,158 Italy Oct. 20, 1942 

